Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate deal. So what ?

Even if it was not a real surprise, it is a euphemism to say that many world leaders and a large part of the population has been particularly disappointed by the announcement by Donald Trump indicating the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris agreement. Economists, politicians, industrialists and ordinary citizens have expressed their profound disagreement in various ways. In France, the buzz was particularly important around the statement of Emmanuel Macron, which has wonderfully mixed fundamentals - on the impact of climate change or opportunities open to the green economy - To more controversial positions such as when he invites cleantech innovators and researchers to come to France ... The whole thing ended with the magnificent (that's my opinion): "Make Our Planet Great Again" which will remain in the annals. For those who would not have seen this intervention ... go take a look here.

Since then, many voices have been raised, notably that of Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York. On June 2d, he sent a letter signed by more than 1,200 organizations in favor of The Paris Agreement to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. All of thesignatories, all American, pledged to the community of the 194 countries signatories of the Paris agreement to continue to honor the commitments of the United States in favor of actions to combat climate change. Media picked up on this information, which shows how far economic circles now seem to be openly distancing themselves from Donald Trump on environmental issues. Among the signatories, all ready to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, one can find - 125 cities including Houston, New York, Los Angeles or Pittsburgh - 902 companies including Google, Facebook, Nike, Intel and hundreds of SMEs - 193 universities and 9 states.

This initiative is not the only one that lifts the spirit of all those who advocate a more sustainable and less greenhouse gas-emitting economy. In reaction to the exit of the Paris agreement, some even predict a massive and coordinated response to continue to reduce their carbon footprint. Because for many of them, it is a choice of good economic sense ... Some have not hesitated to invest heavily in clean technologies in anticipation of the reduction of US commitments toward emissions reduction. Investments in renewable energy have increasingly favorable business cases due to the significant decline in solar costs, notwithstanding the nature and level of state and federal support. Moreover, everyone wonders what place China will take in the fight against global warming. Even before the announcement of Trump a few days ago, Prime Minister Li Keqiang had already clearly confirmed China's willingness to respect its commitments made in Paris, regardless of the decision of the Americans. The role of China, the world's biggest polluter by far, could be accentuated because climate diplomacy hate such a vacuum ... Despite the predominance of coal in the mix, investment flows in the renewable energies and it is likely that the country will strongly benefit from this policy in a few years / decades. By 2020, the country, which emits twice as much CO2 as the United States, is targeting an emission reduction of 40% compared to 2005. China want to become a steady leader in solar, hydro and wind power market. When a decision is made in China, it has the merit of being quickly applied in this country ... Look at the sudden decision to suspend the construction of coal-fired power plants in the country.

The American decision, however, remains bad news for the Paris agreement. If today only three countries - the United States, Nicaragua and Syria - are isolated by not signing the agreement, the withdrawal of Trump creates a precedent that risks having repercussions down the line! But yes, let us be optimistic for our American colleagues who are working towards the ecological transition. which - in spite of difficulties that will necessarily appear - will at least count on some significant supports and welcome France in particular. That being said, as Corneille wrote, "We triumph without glory when we conquer without danger"...

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